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October 7, 2018

Scripture- Numbers 34:1-2- Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give these instructions to the Israelites: When you come into the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as your special possession, these will be the boundaries.”

Observations- Before they entered into the Promised Land, the Israelites needed a plan about how they would live there there together. There would always be external threats to their existence, but if they were careful to develop a good initial plan, they might be able to avoid some internal threats and conflicts. This required them to envision the day when they would plant their crops, nurture them to grow, and then be harvested. They needed to picture their herds grazing fairly and their families coming together for worship on each Sabbath and all the special days of celebration in order to make a plan. They had been wandering around without boundaries for 40 years, but now God was leading them to their home as one people.

Application- We've said yes to some boundaries from God at New Hope. We've declared that making more and better followers of Jesus Christ is key in all of our decisions. We have said that our strategy for miss and ministry is to Reach, Connect, Grow, and Send as we seek to be rooted in God's Word and Renewed by God's Spirit as we Reach out with the love of Jesus to all people. These simple statements serve a boundary markers that help guide us to both what we should do and what we should stop doing or never start doing. If anyone at New Hope wants to start a new ministry, key questions will all revolve around these boundaries as God leads us to "take new territory" for His glory

Prayer- (A prayer at Holy Communion) Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever. Amen.